C-47 41-18505 of the 96th TCS 1945

[Sigurjon]

Guys,
I´m doing research into the events that lead to this aircraft crashing in Iceland late in the evening of the 4th of August 1945 - fortunately none of the 13 men onboard were injured. All of the early history I have of this aircraft is gathered from the internet (Joe Baugher) and from the DC-3 Air Britain book - but they are roughly in agreement. The aircraft is delivered to the USAAF in Aug. 1942 and goes to Africa where it stays until transferred to the 8th AF in the UK on the 17th of February 1944.
When the aircraft crashes on the 4th of August 1945 it is carrying the squadron codes 6Z of 96th TCS (aircraft U). Obviously, as the aircraft arrives in the UK in Feb. 1944, it is likely that she participated in all the major airborne operations in Western Europe. How likely is it that she had been on the books of the 96th TCS the whole time in Europe?

When the aircraft crashed, she was comming from the UK - presumably from somewhere in Wales. What was the 96th base in August 1945?

Regards,
Sigurjon

[The Inspector]

Have you tried the 96th TCS historical sites? there are at least two (maybe the same group) shown in Minneapolis, MN. GOOGLE is your friend

[Sigurjon]

For some reason, it does not matter what I put into Google - I get no hits on any 96th TCS historical groups. If you could post the links from your google, it would be most helpful.

However, during further digging, I´ve found out that the 96th TCS is in some records recorded as part of the 9th air force, so maybe the aircraft was a late commer to the 96th, having started out in some other unit in the 8th air force- guess I´ll never find out.

[Pathfinder]

Your aircraft, 41-18505, started it's service life as part of the 45th TCS of the 316th Troop Carrier Group. It was with the 316th when it received its overseas orders on 12NOV42 destined for North Africa. If you put the number in a GOOGLE search you can read the number and crew in Mike Ingrisano's book VALOR WITHOUT ARMS. You will also find the Feb 44 transit order sending the 316th from Sicily to Cottesmore, UK.

I can check the book to see if it appears in any other operations. Mike did an excellent job but like any research some data was not available. Aircraft lists for each squadron were not available for every mission.

Aircraft arriving in England for assignment were processed (received) through the 8th Air Force...then officially transferred to their active assignment. Most went to the 9th Air Force... IX Troop Carrier Command...but others to ATC or other commands as needed. 505 was probably "with" the 8th Air Force for as long as it took for the ink to dry on the assignment order...

If your reference shows her arriving in UK in early FEB44 then she went up there with the 316th, but most likely was outprocessed to ATC as the 316th received new planes in advance of D-Day.

By D-Day the overwhelming majority of C-47s in TCC were C-47A's, and B's were beginning to arrive as well. It is rather unusual to find older C-47s from the 41 contact runs in front line use.

It looks like at the time of her loss she was with Air Transport Command. (ATC) which would make sense for an older plane. The 96th TCS was part of the 440th TCG. Their unit history is called "DZ EUROPE".

[The Inspector]

i just input 96th tcs and hit 'search'

[Dave Smith]

To add a small detail, the airfield in Wales must have been RAF Valley on the isle of Anglesey. Most, if not all, the 9th's C-47s staged through here on the way home in the late summer of 1945.

[Sigurjon]

Thank you guys. Your input has been very helpful.

Pathfinder,
I´m a bit puzzled by these two sentences:

If your reference shows her arriving in UK in early FEB44 then she went up there with the 316th, but most likely was outprocessed to ATC as the 316th received new planes in advance of D-Day.
By D-Day the overwhelming majority of C-47s in TCC were C-47A's, and B's were beginning to arrive as well. It is rather unusual to find older C-47s from the 41 contact runs in front line use.

I totally understand the reasoning of sending the older C-47´s to the ATC and leaving the fighting to more up to date machines. The puzzleing part, is the fact the aircraft is CLEARLY marked 6Z in a couple of photographs I have of the aircraft at the crash site. With 6Z being the squadron code of 96th TCS, I´m wondering if it would have kept it´s previous squadron codes while in service with the ATC?

Dave,
It was indeed coming from airfield 568 - RAF Walley.

[Pathfinder]

Everything is speculation without the complete Accident Report and a complete ARC.

505 could have served in ATC for the bulk of the war and joined 96/440 for redeployment to the US. I do know that a lot of personnel returned to the US as "members" of the 440th. (Many of those I know had been members of the HQ and 4th Sqn of IX TCC Pathfinder Group which had been de-mobbed in APR45. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sqns were individually assigned to each of the three TC Wings still in the ETO)

If it was marked for 96TCS then at the time of the loss it was in 96TCS. From what I see in Baugher's citation she spent most of her time in ATC.

You would have to find the Squadron diaries for the 96th and HOPE that there is an aircraft assignment order detailing when she came to the 96th.

[mike furline]

You can order the accident report here,
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/ ... Submit4=Go

[Pathfinder]

I have a copy of the unit history of the 440th TCG. It is called "DZ EUROPE" There is no place or date of publication. The end pages discuss the period just after VE Day. But the textual references to dates ends in mid-July 45, so there is nothing about redeployment to the US or losses enroute around your date of loss.

The pilot of your plane, Adam G. Hisgen, is listed in the civilian address section of the 96th Squadron. He was from Albany, NY. In one of the 96th Sqn photo groupings (Power pilots and Navigators) he is seen sitting in the front row fifth from right. Interestingly enough my Pathfinder pilot friend Hal Sperber is in this same grouping. Remember I told you that the 440th was a transit unit for many high point men returning to the States. Hal told me he wasn't really "in" the 440th---he was just passing through. But he was there long enough to be included in the address section and photos.

It appears that Hisgen deceased in June of 1993 in Saratoga, NY. There is a discrepancy in his middle initial. Army records and other documents list it as "G", while SSDI lists it as "E". Those discrepancies with his middle initial as "E" appear to be the result of "internet typos". His widow deceased this past April.

His son died tragically in 1969 as a result of what has been termed an inter-racial clash at a movie theater in Albany.

Partial Obit:

Adam G. Hisgen, 76, of Route 9N, Porters Corners, died Wednesday at Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Springs.
Mr. Hisgen was born in Albany.
For many years, Mr. Hisgen was a Postal Service mail carrier in Albany.
He was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran. Following the war, he served in the Air Force and was in the Air Force Reserve for 20 years, advancing to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He was a life member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Chapter 2586,Saratoga Springs. He also was a member of the Elks Lodge, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion Post 70 in Saratoga Springs.

As I theorized in an earlier post, I see that 505 IS on the Feb44 transit order for the [b]44th[/b] Squadron 316th TCG from Sicily to England. At that time she carried a "nose number" 61. So it looks like she went into ATC after arriving in England with the 316th.

[Sigurjon]

Pathfinder,
Thank you very much for that! It certainly answers a few questions.